Nearly 450 female level 10 gymnasts from across the country are making their way to Long Beach today to compete in their biggest competition of the year, the Junior Olympic National Championships. 

Who qualified:
The top seven all around gymnasts from each of USAG's eight regions qualified in eight different age groups.
Click here to view the qualifiers 

What's at stake?
The gymnasts will be competing for national titles in all around as well as all four individual events. The top 4 all around finishers from each age group will be named to the 2011 Junior Olympic National Team and invited to attend a training camp at the Karyolyi Ranch in October. 

Ways to follow:
Gymnastike JO Nationals 2011 Coverage Page (all videos will go here, and you can add your own!
Official Meet Website
USA Gymnastics Website
Gymnastike twitter
Gymnastike facebook

When?
May 12 - Training Day
May 13 - 11:30am: Junior & Senior A, and 5pm: Junior & Senior B
May 14 - 11:30am: Junior & Senior C, and 5pm: Junior & Senior D
May 15 - NIT Competition (for gymnasts who placed 8th or 9th AA at Regionals, or for Regional Event Champions who did not qualify in all around). 
Competition is hosted by American Gymnastics Academy in the Long Beach Sports Arena. 


Video coverage (or lack thereof) 
USA Gymnastics has a video contract with an outside company who sells dvd's to parents and that prevents gymnastike, or anyone else, from providing video coverage of the competition to gymnastics fans and family. It's a shame. 

But, Jason MacDonald will be there doing conducting interviews with gymnasts and coaches and giving you a behind the scenes look from Long Beach, and we'll keep you updated on all the news from Long Beach throughout the weekend. 


Defending Champions:
Jr A: Grace Williams, Geddert's Twistars (now in elite program); Jr B: Jessica Howe, WOGA; Jr C: Rachel Spicer, Texas Dreams/now Metroplex; Jr D: Brandie Jay, GK's (now in elite program); Sr A: Jessie DeZiel, Twin City Twisters; Sr B: Joanna Sampson, Ricochets (graduated); Sr C: Katherine Grable, Oshkosh; Sr D: Alaina Johnson, Texas East & Kim Jacob, Superior (both graduated)
Super Region Champion: Region 3

As you wait for competition to begin in Long Beach, check out gymnastike's video coverage of the 2010 JO National Championships in Dallas.

If you are in Long Beach and would like to share your videos we invite you to upload them here and we'll add them to our JO Nationals page! This way fans, family, and college coaches can view the videos in one place. Click here to upload your videos.

Best of luck to all the competitors and coaches!